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OW contacting DH

514 replies

DillyDingDillyDong · 07/11/2016 09:07

I posted a short while ago about DH sleeping with another woman years ago. It was resolved and almost forgotten about but then my company hired her and I have been working with her.

Recently I have had a bit of a rubbish time. I had a miscarriage, a couple of family bereavements, a fall out with a friend and DS has just had a huge operation which has brought a whole load of new problems with family.

Anyway, I have needed to be off work for a while. I'm a nursery manager and ow manages another nursery in the company but we're paired together for various reasons. She has been coming in to my setting to help out with the management side of things although my deputy and third in charge have most of it handled. I left DH's number on a post it on my desk saying to call him if it was an emergency and they couldn't get me.

DH's phone went off this morning while he was in the shower. I shouted through to him and he asked me to check it in case it was work. It was an unsaved number and the text said "Hope everything is ok with you guys. Sorry for what I sent on Friday, I was a bit drunk and stupid." I went in to the bathroom and told him and asked who it was. He then turned the water off and got out looking very serious and he said that he was sorry and didn't want me to find out yet. So I got a bit panicky and thought the worst. I hadn't opened the phone I'd just seen the message on the locked screen so at this point I did. I went to the messages and there wasn't one there from Friday but a few from last week.

The first said "Hi, hope you don't mind me texting you. Just wanted to check on DS and send you all my love." DH replied saying thanks, gave an update on DS and asked who it was. The reply came saying it was OW. DH then replied saying he wasn't too sure how she got his number and appreciated the nice ,message but would prefer it if she didn't contact him again.

She replied again saying it was on the post it and she felt like she couldn't resist texting, and that she was divorcing her husband having a really rough time and it was a moment of madness. She apologised and said she realised it was stupid but she could use a friendly face. DH replied again saying he was sorry to hear it but we had our own stuff going on and how unfair she's being to me who has handled our recent work situation so well. He said that he didn't want to upset me with so much going on and asked her again to not contact him.

There was nothing for a couple of days and then she text on Thursday saying she was sorry for contacting him in the first place and now she can't stop thinking about him and all these feelings were resurfacing. He didn't reply and she sent another one saying his stupid she is. He didn't reply and she said she gets the message and that I'm so lucky to have him.

DH has just told me that she text again on Friday night saying she missed him and wishes they would have had a chance of being together and she still thinks about him and the night they were together. He deleted it straight away and said you could tell she had been drinking because of the way it was typed and some of the words were spelt wrong. He didn't tell me because we've had so much stuff to deal with and he wanted to wait but admitted he wasn't sure if he was ever actually going to say anything because of the implications with work and it bringing up old feelings and memories for me.

I believe DH and understand why he didn't tell me. I don't know what to do about OW. She's clearly having a rough time but so am I and it doesn't give her the right to try and start things up with my husband especially after I've been so nice to her. Should I contact her or just leave it to DH to ignore her? I know some of you might think I should be suspicious that he deleted the text from Friday but I honestly believe him. We've come a very long way since this happened and he's a completely different person to who he was then, and so am I. And I know circumstances last time were different as we were fighting and probably going to break up but now are so strong and have DS.

I don't even know if I'm angry or upset or anything else because I've felt a million and one things over this past month! I'm just sat in the bath hoping for some good advice off mumsnet!

OP posts:
Boobyroof · 07/11/2016 11:49

I remember your post before and admired your strength to be able to cope with a really difficult situation. For her to do this now...how dare she!!!!! She doesn't deserve your kindness anymore. I am so angry on your behalf Angry

Kr1stina · 07/11/2016 11:49

If she is dismissed she will claim sexual discrimination , that she was dismissed because of her sex life when men in the company are not judged on the same grounds . That the OP was out to get her in revenge because she couldn't " keep her man" .

WaxingNinja · 07/11/2016 11:51

Sorry your DH has fucked up yet again and you're left dealing with the fallout.

Professional is the only way to go with this in work.

Your DH needs to make an official complaint. And have a good think about his boundaries and behaviour in inviting this woman into your personal lives yet again by even responding to her and chit-chatting over text in the first place.

He missed a chance in shutting this down immediately as soon as he knew it was her texting him.

Now he has another chance to shut it down, by getting her out of your workplace.

I would be making it very clear what I expect him to do if I were you.

Cockblocktopus · 07/11/2016 11:51

Bloody hell OP.

I agree with speaking to management even if it's just so you can be clear abou why you won't work with her.

smileyhappypeople · 07/11/2016 11:51

I remember the original and I don't like to say I told you so but I was on the don't do it, it will end in disaster side.
If you have someone you can speak to in management that you trust I would absolutely speak to them. You explained the circumstances at the time to you boss so I don't think you would be unreasonable to take the texts in and tell them they need to deal with it immediately.
I would also be having a word with her and telling her to back off!
So sorry this has happened on top of everything else. You seemed so happy and content with everything at the end of your last post.

SuperFlyHigh · 07/11/2016 11:55

yes agreed your DH needs to make a complaint.

I think given the history between OW and OP's DH then it is harassment as why on earth should she be texting him now anyway?

Kr1stina I highly doubt there are many men at OP's company so OW could not claim on sex discrimination grounds I'd go under the fair dismissal and cite data protection even if OP did leave her DH's number lying around.

OP needs to flag up how gracious and understanding she has been working with OW up until now and how she feels hurt, wronged etc now.

BoopTheSnoot · 07/11/2016 11:55

You absolutely need to escalate this to your bosses. She's abused her position and possibly breached the DPA.
You must be fuming, I know I would be. Hope it gets sorted Flowers

FlapsTie · 07/11/2016 11:56

I've just reread your old thread and realised your miscarriage must have been very recent, and that she knew you were pregnant.

She is an epic thundercunt.

Flowers
Marynary · 07/11/2016 11:57

That is not going to stand up in a tribunal as Harassment.

As the OW has only worked there for a short period of time then she can't take the company to a tribunal for unfair dismissal. Whether or not it is harassment, it is certainly unprofessional to obtain the DH's number.

WaxingNinja · 07/11/2016 11:58

Having now read your last thread, it was madness from the start.

And if your DH doesn't stop it now, your next thread will be "there's a work event coming up that DH and I can't possibly find an excuse or reason not to attend, and the OW will be there".

SuperFlyHigh · 07/11/2016 11:58

exactly Marynary during her probationary period I imagine there are certain reasons as to how she can be sacked.

I would not want her anywhere near me, in the company or not.

I would also be questioning as to how exactly she came to work with OP here - I strongly think and said in the previous post that it was planned by OW.

HeCantBeSerious · 07/11/2016 12:04

exactly Marynary during her probationary period I imagine there are certain reasons as to how she can be sacked

Probation is a red herring. You have little protection against dismissal in the first 2 years of employment and gross misconduct is gross misconduct whenever it occurs.

TheStoic · 07/11/2016 12:05

I would be very, VERY concerned that he didn't block her number the instant he knew who she was.

She'd still be contacting him right now if you hadn't found out. Is there a part of him that enjoys the ego stroking and is not willing to shut it down completely?

DoinItFine · 07/11/2016 12:06

he was wrong to take the information from a colleagues desk but its hardly a sackable office

Tell that to Jonathan Ross. And the former head of Radio 2.

TheRealKimmySchmidt63 · 07/11/2016 12:08

Agree with pp ask dh to call your manager.
Well done you for your grace and style. Hopefully she can be moved on

SuperFlyHigh · 07/11/2016 12:08

HeCant actually there is some protection if you read the gov websites...

we had in our firm (a law firm) a lawyer who was fired for various reasons during his probationary period (relating to work performance etc) he tried to argue that as he'd had a heart attack (true) and he'd followed procedure that he'd played by the rules, we had to get a barrister to advise us on what exactly were the reasons for his dismissal.

NickiFury · 07/11/2016 12:09

This wouldn't even be happening if he had blocked her the first time I got a message. But he didn't. He carried on feeding into the drama by communicating with her and telling her not to communicate with him while contributing to communicate with her. I think it's quite likely things would have started up again via the medium of these angsty text messages.

Hope she's not on here, it's a very recognisable situation.

LadyAEIOU · 07/11/2016 12:12

Make sure your DH does not delete any more texts between him and her so you have proof she instigated, he has asked her to stop and she has refused. Screenshot all messages.

DH must change his number.

Speak to your manager/ HR and if needs be have your DH show them the evidence of messages.

diddl · 07/11/2016 12:12

"I'm baffled why your husband gave out information about your child AND THEN asked who the person was."

Me too-and then didn't block as soon as he knew who it was.

I think that he should phone the nursery & tell them though, but he's certainly a bloody idiot!

FlapsTie · 07/11/2016 12:12

I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to block someone from texting. Perhaps it didn't occur to him he could, and was just trying to minimise the damage to his wife in light of her recent miscarriage and bereavement?

LadyAEIOU · 07/11/2016 12:13

I would not confront this woman yourself, do it through management/ HR channels then you can show you have been completely professional.

NickiFury · 07/11/2016 12:18

Google is your friend when finding out how to block people. And if he was struggling with that then he should just have ignored her completely and told his wife straight away. What he did do was keep on messaging albeit imploring her not to contact him 😒

I'm sorry OP, this sucks for you but I think he played a part too.

JeanLouise123 · 07/11/2016 12:21

This might have been avoided if your husband had closed her down straight away. As Kr1stina pointed out, the reason he gave the OW for stopping contact was not because he didn't want it, but because of you.

If I was you, and if you have not done already, get your husband to send her a blunt message along the lines of:

"I tried to be polite but it is not working. To be clear: I am not interested. I do not wish to be friends or to talk further with you, now or in the future. I am showing my wife the messages so that she is aware. Please do not contact me again".

Then tell your boss, make them aware of the situation (formally, with evidence if needed) and let them manange the situation. I doubt it is sackable, but I know very little about employment law.

Sorry you are having to deal with this at such a difficult time. You are so calm and composed and I admire the way in which you have handled everything.

aforestgrewandgrew · 07/11/2016 12:23

I also remember your original thread, I'm sorry you ended up working together.

I think your DH has acted properly. Yes he probably should have told you but you can see from his texts he was trying to do his best to protect you and get her to sod off.

I think you need to involve your work. She's made this a work issue, it needs to be resolved there.

HopefulHamster · 07/11/2016 12:23

I would absolutely talk to work about this. The GALL of the woman!

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